🏳️‍🌈 Alphabet Soup 101 – What You Need to Know About the LGBTQIA+ Community

Let’s start with the basics: if you’ve ever looked at “LGBTQIA+” and thought, That’s a lot of letters, you’re not alone.

But here’s the thing: behind every letter is a person—a colleague, a friend, a customer, a leader. And if your workplace values inclusion, then understanding this initialism (and the people it represents) isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential.

So, welcome to Alphabet Soup 101. Let’s take a sip. 🍵

🧠 What Does LGBTQIA+ Stand For?

Each letter in the initialism represents a different identity within the queer community:

• L – Lesbian

• G – Gay

• B – Bisexual

• T – Trans

• Q – Queer

• I – Intersex

• A – Asexual (or sometimes ACE)

• + – Everyone else not captured in the letters above: non-binary, pansexual, two-spirit, agender, genderqueer, and more

It’s not alphabet soup for the sake of it. It’s an attempt to name and honor the wide spectrum of human identity and experience. Because no one initialism could ever fully capture the diversity within this community—but this is a start.

👥 This Isn’t New. You Just Haven’t Seen It.

Despite what some may claim, LGBTQIA+ people aren’t new. We’re not a trend. We’ve been here—always. In every culture, across history.

What is new is that we’re finally being seen, heard, and respected in more spaces—including the workplace.

But that visibility comes with backlash, fear, and misinformation. That’s why foundational knowledge matters: it equips allies to support, lead, and show up with clarity.

🧩 Sexual Orientation vs. Gender Identity vs. Gender Expression

Here’s where people often get tangled—so let’s clear it up.

• Sexual orientation is who you’re attracted to

• Gender identity is who you are

• Gender expression is how you present yourself

None of these are the same. A transgender person can be straight. A non-binary person can be bisexual. A man wearing eyeliner isn’t necessarily gay or trans—he’s a man wearing eyeliner.

If you’re confused, that’s okay. Keep asking, keep learning, and don’t make assumptions.

🌍 Why This Matters at Work

LGBTQIA+ people are in your workplace—yes, yours. Whether you know it or not. But many aren’t out, and with good reason: fear of discrimination, judgment, or simply being treated differently.

When people don’t feel safe, they:

• Stay quiet

• Hide who they are

• Miss out on opportunities

• Burn out

• Leave

And when people do feel safe?

• They speak up

• They lead

• They innovate

• They stay

Inclusion isn’t about being moral—it’s about being strategic.

🔄 It’s Okay to Not Know Everything

You might be wondering: Am I going to get it wrong?

Yes. Probably. And that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. It’s showing up with humility, curiosity, and commitment.

Some things you can do today:
✅ Use inclusive language (like “partner” instead of assuming “husband” or “wife”)
✅ Ask for and respect pronouns
✅ Challenge homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia—even when it’s “just a joke”
✅ Keep learning

💥 The Bottom Line

The LGBTQIA+ community isn’t a monolith—it’s a mosaic. It’s made up of people with different experiences, joys, challenges, and dreams. And if we want truly inclusive workplaces, we need to start with understanding.

So learn the letters. Learn the language. Learn about the people.

Because when you understand us, you don’t just see the initialism—you see the humanity behind it.

Learn more about Michael’s speaking topic, Breaking Down the Alphabet: Understanding the Difference Between Attraction, Identity, and Expression.